Paging terminal

Abstract

A paging terminal is provided for storing incoming pages during terminal downtime and subsequent transmission thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A paging system comprising: terminal input means for accepting pages;   memory means coupled to the terminal input means for storing the pages;   terminal output means coupled to the memory means for relaying the pages to at least one of a plurality of pagers;   monitor means coupled to the output means for monitoring the status of the terminal output means; and   control means coupled to the terminal input means, the memory means, and the monitor means, for continuing to accept and store the pages when the status of the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages, and further for subsequently relaying the pages that were previously accepted and stored with the status of the terminal output means does not inhibit relaying the pages.   
     
     
       2. The paging system of claim 1 further comprising information means coupled to the terminal input means and to the monitor means for providing notification of the status of the terminal output means inhibiting the relaying of the pages. 
     
     
       3. The paging system of claim 2 further comprising programmable timer means coupled to the information means and to the monitor means for providing notification of the status of the terminal output means inhibiting the relaying of the pages for a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
       4. The paging system of claim 1 further comprising information means coupled to the memory means and to the monitor means for adding page delay information to the pages stored while the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages. 
     
     
       5. The paging system of claim 4 further comprising programmable timer means coupled to the information means and to the monitor means for adding page delay information to the pages stored while the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages for a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
       6. In a paging terminal, a method comprising the steps of: accepting pages;   storing the pages;   relaying the pages to at least one of a plurality of pagers; and   monitoring whether the status of relaying the pages is inhibited;   continuing to accept and store the pages when relaying the pages is inhibited; and   subsequently relaying the pages that were previously accepted and stored when relaying the pages is not inhibited.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of providing notification of the status of relaying the pages being inhibited. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of providing notification of the status of relaying the pages being inhibited comprises providing notification of the status of relaying the pages being inhibited for a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of adding page delay information to the pages stored while the relaying of the pages is inhibited. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of adding page delay information to the pages stored while the relaying of the pages is inhibited comprises adding page delay information to the pages stored while the relaying of the pages is inhibited for a predetermined time interval. 
     
     
       11. A paging terminal comprising: terminal input means for accepting pages;   memory means coupled to the terminal input means for storing the pages;   terminal output means coupled to the memory means for relaying the pages to at least one of a plurality of pagers;   monitor means coupled to the output means for monitoring the status of the terminal output means;   control means coupled to the terminal input means, the memory means, and the monitor means, for continuing to accept and store the pages when the status of the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages, and further for subsequently relaying the pages that were previously accepted and stored when the status of the terminal output means does not inhibit relaying the pages;   first information means coupled to the terminal input means and to the monitor means for providing notification of the status of the terminal output means inhibiting the relaying of the pages;   second information means coupled to the memory means and to the monitor means for adding page delay information to the pages stored while the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages; and   programmable timer means coupled to the first information means, to the second information means, and to the monitor means for providing notification of the status of the terminal output means inhibiting the relaying of the pages for a predetermined time interval, and for adding page delay information to the pages stored while the terminal output means inhibits relaying the pages for a predetermined time interval.